A while back I went on a date and everything was fine and we planned a second date until she ghosted. Weird but not unexpected. 6-7 months later I decided to try out IG and she adds me from my number. I ask why she’s adding me after ghosting and she explains she saw my message, thought she replied and was waiting for me to reply. She noticed the next day she didn’t respond, and thought I’d be mad so instead decided to not respond at all. She ends by saying “i actually started seeing someone else but I would still like to be friends with you!”

I replied that I was not interested in that, and she says “oh wow. Can I ask why? I thought we got along well” to which I didn’t respond.

I’ve always replied no to this question because In high school I learned it’s just a social platitude which benefits the woman. But now that I say no it’s always met with genuine surprise. This friendship makes no sense to me because the personality You like is based on romantic interest not platonic friendship.

Do women truly think men want to remain friends after rejection? Or do you just expect them to say yes just for appeasement then let the relationship die?